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Catalonia, a destinationwith quality and characterWelcome to Catalonia, a land at the leading edge which is eager to offer you hospitality andgive you such an unforgettable stay that you will want to come again. Catalonia greets youwith its beautiful scenery, its rich cultural heritage and, above all, its open-minded,enterprising people.The thriving Catalan economy has always made our country a pole ofattraction, a land that looks outwards, beyond its borders, towards the horizon.

A land of progress, well-being and hospitality. Catalonia was a driving force behind theeconomic activity and industrialization of 19th and 20th century Spain and nowadays it playsthe same role in the new economy of the 21st century.Today, as in the past, ours is a land ofencounter, a hospitable land where cultures from all over the world live side by side, a landwith an open outlook, which sees tourism as a great bridge towards mutual knowledge andunderstanding, contact and exchange.

Catalonia, the seal of quality. Catalonia has consolidated its position as a leading touristdestination by offering one key premium: quality. Entrepreneurs and government work as ateam to provide a wide range of facilities giving top-rate service. Our efforts are focused ona model that is both competitive and environmentally sustainable. Every year we trainthousands of professionals to offer the finest and most attentive service to all our guests.

Catalunya, a diverse land. Besides the charms of its beaches and mountains, Catalonia offersother more up-to-date attractions: the worldwide prestige of its cuisine and wines, forinstance, or Barcelona, which is now one of the most popular city tourism destinations, orthe successful centenary celebrations of artists such as Antoni Gaudí or Salvador Dalí.Allthis is clear proof that Catalonia is a diverse and modern country offering an extensiveselection of top-notch products.

Catalonia, several countries in one.We invite you to see it with your own eyes.

Contents

The strength of identity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Catalonia, a universal heritage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

World heritage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Catalan culture, identity and prestige . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

The Catalan coast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

A land of internal contrasts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Catalonia, a constellation of cities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Catalonia: a spectacular setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

A country of craftsmen and women . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

A land of rejoicing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

The value of gastronomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Catalan literature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Useful information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

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Catalonia’s ownlanguage is Catalan.The origins of theCatalan language dateback to the earlyMiddle Ages.

Catalonia,a European countryCatalonia lies in the north-eastpart of the Iberian peninsula. It has over seven millioninhabitants and occupies an area of 31,980 km2,comparable to Belgium, the Netherlands or Switzerland. Over the centuries, the Catalannation has enjoyed differentdegrees of sovereignty underthe political institutions andforms of government proper to each era.

Nowadays the Generalitat, or autonomous government, is Catalonia's organ of government. It comprises a President, an Executive, and a Parliament, which is oneof the most ancient in Europe.Its jurisdiction is defined by a Statute of Autonomy and itshares political power with theinstitutions of the Spanish state.

The strength of identityCatalonia is a small country in terms of size. But its personality, shaped byover a thousand years of history, and its distinct culture and language, havemade it both rich and great. Catalonia's origins as a geographical, territorialand linguistic unit date back to the high Middle Ages.

Wine-cellar in El Pinell de Brai.

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Catalonia's thousands of years of historyIn the course of severalmillennia, Catalonia haswitnessed the arrival of manydifferent peoples including the Iberians, the Celts, the Greeks – who founded thecolonies of Rhodes (Roses) andEmpúries – the Romans – whoset up one of their provincialcapitals at Tarragona –, the Visigoths and the Arabs. In the 12th century, a dynasticmarriage between the counts of Barcelona and the kings

of Aragon gave rise to thekingdom of Catalonia andAragon, which built a medievalmaritime and commercial empire in the Mediterranean. The crown of Catalonia andAragon retained its distinctpolitical and legal identity untilPhilip V became king of Spain in 1714.Since then the Catalan peoplehave been engaged in a peacefulstruggle to win back their rightsand freedoms. One of the mostsignificant episodes was therecovery of self-government in1979, when the Spanishparliament approved the currentStatute of Autonomy, which wassubsequently endorsed by theCatalan people in a referendum.

The language,a sign of identityCatalonia's own language isCatalan. This has been the casesince the 12th century. Whendemocracy was restored in1979, Catalan and Spanish wereboth recognized as officiallanguages in Catalonia. Theorigins of the Catalan languagedate back to the early MiddleAges. Despite periods ofprohibition and repression, themajority of Catalans still use ittoday.

The Museu d’Història de Catalunya and the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (right).

MUSEUMS

Museu Arqueològic de Catalunya (MAC)The MAC’s mission is to conserve, study and disseminatearchaeological remains illustrating historical evolution,from prehistoric times to the medieval period.www.mac.es

Museu d’Història de CatalunyaThe Museum’s permanent collection is organised as ajourney through Catalan history, from prehistoric times to the present day.www.mhcat.net

Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC)The MNAC collections take visitors through 1,000 years of Catalan, Spanish and European art from the 11th to the 20th centuries.www.mnac.es

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When Catalonia was not yet CataloniaCatalonia's prehistoric heritagecontains much that is of note:numerous Mediterranean Basincave paintings which have beendeclared part of the UNESCOworld heritage; the deep imprintleft by the ancient Iberianculture, notably the settlementat Ullastret; and the vestiges of

Catalonia,a universal heritageThere are clear parallels between Catalonia's periods of splendour and theproximity of Catalan art forms to those predominant elsewhere in Europe:classical art when Hispania Tarraconensis became one of the foremostprovinces in the Roman empire; Romanesque art at the time of Catalonia'sbirth as a nation; Gothic art and the great medieval and pre-Renaissanceliterature when Catalonia dominated the Western Mediterranean; andModernism – Catalan Art Nouveau – in the late 19th and early 20thcenturies, the time of Catalonia's national rebirth and the rise of its industrialbourgeoisie. Similarly, during the first three decades and the second half ofthe 20th century, the contributions of artists born or trained in Cataloniawere decisive to the development of the European artistic avant-gardes.

the Greek and Roman cultures,at the Graeco-Roman site ofEmpúries and in the Roman cityof Tarragona, another UNESCOworld heritage site. Many findsare on show in the archeologicalmuseums, first and foremost theMuseu Nacional Arqueològic inTarragona. The less plentifulVisigothic legacy is concentratedin Terrassa, while traces of thepresence of Muslims are mostnoticeable in Tortosa, the Terresde l'Ebre, and Lleida and itsarea of influence.

Romanesque was theart form whichcoincided withCatalonia's birth and early developmentand the formation ofthe Catalan language.

The monastery of Santes Creus.

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The beauty of Romanesque artRomanesque was the art formwhich coincided with Catalonia'sbirth and early development andthe formation of the Catalanlanguage. It was stronglyinfluenced by the Lombard styleand spread from the Pyreneanvalleys over much of thecountry. The churches of theVall de Boí, the monastery ofSant Pere de Rodes, and thecathedral of La Seu d’Urgell. But the most striking andmemorable feature of ourRomanesque legacy are thepaintings and sculptures in the Museu Nacional d’Art deCatalunya (MNAC) in Barcelona.

The splendour of Gothic artMost of the great medievalcathedrals date from the Gothicperiod or slightly later. Theywere the emblematic seats ofthe powerful bishoprics whichformed much of the Catalanterritory in the feudal age. The most noteworthy are thoseof Barcelona, Tarragona, andGirona (the single nave ofGirona cathedral is the widest inEuropean Gothic architecture),along with those of Lleida andTortosa. But the true paradigmof Catalan Gothic architecture,on account of the mathematicalprecision of its beautifulproportions, is the splendidchurch of Santa Maria del Mar in

Most of the greatmedieval cathedralswere the emblematicseats of the powerfulbishoprics whichinformed much of the Catalan territory in the feudal age.

THE BONS HOMES PATH

The Cathars –who referred to themselves as the “Good Men”, bons homes in Catalan– came to Catalonia in the 12th-14th centuries from Occitania(Languedoc), where they were persecuted by aCrusade against them and by the Inquisition. Here,however, they were welcomed by Catalan lords andnobles.A route signposted as GR-107 (long-distancefootpath) links the Santuari de Queralt, near Berga, tolegendary Castell de Montsegur in the French Ariègeregion, through the Parc Natural del Cadí-Moixeró,following the path the Cathars took into exile.Theroute, with some sections suitable for cars, others forwalking, horse-riding and cycling, passes through suchplaces as Bagà, Gósol and Bellver de Cerdanya

Sites of interest along GR-107:Queralt Sanctuary in BergaGósol CastleSaldesBagàBellver de CerdanyaChurch of Santa Maria de Talló (11th century) in BellverChurch of Sant Julià in PedraChapel of Sant Serni de Coborriu (12th century)

www.camidelsbonshomes.com

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Barcelona. The spectacularCistercian monasteries –Poblet,Santes Creus and Vallbona deles Monges– are also in Gothicstyle –or Gothic-Romanesquetransition style–, as is themonastery of Sant Cugat delVallès and that of Pedralbes inBarcelona.Catalan Gothic painting alsoflourished during the late MiddleAges, assimilating influencesfrom Burgundy, Flanders andItaly. The most distinguishedGothic painters include JaumeHuguet, Lluís Borrassà, Ferrer

Bassa and the Serra brothers.This was also the age of thegreat chroniclers (King Jaume I,Muntaner and Desclot), of greatpoets influenced by Petrarch(such as Ausiàs Marc fromValencia), and of novels such asCurial i Güelfa and Tirant loBlanc (The White Knight).Together they constitute theGolden Age of Catalanliterature.

Gothic was also the age of the greatchroniclers (King Jaume I, Muntaner andDesclot), of great poets(such as Ausias Marchfrom Valencia), and ofnovels such as Curial eGüelfa and Tirant loBlanch.Together theyconstitute the GoldenAge of Catalanliterature.

CISTERCIAN ROUTE

The Cistercian Order, which becameestablished in Catalonia in the 12thcentury, emerged as part of amovement to renew monastic life inreaction to the wealth and refinedconditions at many medievalmonasteries.The kings of Cataloniaand Aragon entrusted the Cistercianswith the task of building largemonasteries on lands recentlyconquered from the Moors in orderto re-Christianise and cultivate them.Three Cistercian monasteries form a

route that also includes visits to themajor towns nearby.

- Monestir de Santes Creus (1158) in Aiguamúrcia. It was fortified in the14th century.

- Monestir de Poblet (1150) in Vimbodí is the largest inhabited Cistercian site in Europe.

- Monestir de Santa Maria de Vallbona (1176) in Vallbona de les Monges.

www.larutadelcister.infoMonestir de Santes Creus,which faithfully reproducesthe Benedictine aesthetic.

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The gems of ModernismGaudí is undoubtedly the mostfamous architect of Catalonia'sModernist movement. Much ofhis work has been included inthe UNESCO world heritageand year after year it drawsmillions of visitors who gaze infascination at the bone-likestructures of Casa Batlló, thestone waves of Casa Milà (LaPedrera), the Sagrada Família,rising like a vertical hymn, orthe dream-like landscapes ofParc Güell. But Gaudí is onlypart of the Modernist heritage:

who were also Modernists,sensitised the public to theartistic influence of Paris, whilewriters like Verdaguer,Maragall, Guimerà, Rusiñolhimself, and many othersrebuilt Catalan literature on thebasis of the everyday language–still very much alive– and thememory of the great medievalliterature.

other leading names includeDomènech i Montaner, thecreator of the Palau de laMúsica Catalana and theHospital de Sant Pau, and Puigi Cadafalch, who designed somehighly characteristic buildings.Though Barcelona was theepicentre of Modernism, thereare Modernist buildings inmany other Catalan cities, suchas Girona, Lleida, Reus,Tarragona, Canet de Mar andOlot. Industrial buildings werealso built in Modernist style,even in the countryside,notably the cooperativewineries of Conca de Barberà,Priorat and Terra Alta.The painters Casas and Rusiñol,

La Sagrada Familia and the Palau de la Música Catalana.

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CATALAN ART NOUVEAU

La Pedrera (1905-1910)The visit to Casa Milà –La Pedrera– includes the roof andattic as well as an apartment furnished in early 20thcentury style, providing a glimpse of Gaudí’s style ininterior decoration.www.fundaciocaixacatalunya.org

Casa Batlló (1904-1906)Behind the Casa Batlló’s extraordinary Catalan ArtNouveau façade is a whole world of surprises and refinedarchitectural detail. All the different features of thisremarkable building seem to move, as if transformed intonatural elements.www.casabatllo.es

Sagrada FamíliaThis is Gaudí’s unfinished masterpiece. Outstandingelements include the Nativity Façade, the stylised towersand the surprising spires.www.sagradafamilia.org

Palau de la Música CatalanaThis building, conceived by Lluís Domènech i Montaner,was inaugurated in 1908 and is a veritable jewel ofCatalan Art Nouveau, known here as Modernisme. It isthe seat of the Orfeó Català, the choir founded in 1891,and is one of the world’s most outstanding concert hallsand the venue for regular seasons of symphony concerts.www.palaumusica.org

Contemporary heritageAt the same time as theNoucentista movement –a classicist, learned, pro-European current of the firstthree decades of the 20thcentury–, an avant-gardereaction in tune with Europeantrends got underway: Picassoand Cubism, Miró and Dalí andSurrealism. These artists spentmuch of their lives in Cataloniaand many of their works arehere. The same is true of othercontemporary artists, notablyTàpies.Catalan literature, which hasproduced poets such as Foixand Carner, narrators such asJosep Pla, and novelists suchMercè Rodoreda, is part and

parcel of the great literarycurrents of recent times,though its development wasabruptly cut short by theSpanish Civil War.Since the return of democracy,Catalonia's energy andcreativity have been primarilyreflected in the fields of cityplanning, design, drama andmusic, thanks to professionalsof international renown andvenues and institutions such asthe Museu d’Art Contemporanide Barcelona, Centre deCultura Contemporània deBarcelona, L’Auditori, andTeatre Nacional de Catalunya.

Gaudí is undoubtedlythe most famousarchitect of Catalonia's Modernist movement.Other leading namesinclude Domènech i Montaner and Puig i Cadafalch.

World Heritage

WORLD HERITAGE SITES AND MONUMENTS IN CATALONIA

Works by Antoni GaudíCasa Milà “La Pedrera”www.fundaciocaixacatalunya.orgCasa Batlló www.casabatllo.catSagrada Família: Nativity Façade and Cryptwww.sagradafamilia.orgColònia Güell: Cryptwww.rutadelmodernisme.comPark Güell www.rutadelmodernisme.comPalau Güell www.diba.es/palauguell/index.htmCasa Vicens www.rutadelmodernisme.com

Works by Lluís Domènech i MontanerPalau de la Música Catalanawww.palaumusica.orgHospital de Sant Pauwww.rutadelmodernisme.com

PobletReial Monestir de Santa Maria de Pobletwww.larutadelcister.info

Tarragona Archaeological SitesArc de Berà www.mnat.esTorre dels Escipions www.mnat.esVil·la romana de Centcelleswww.constanti.altanet.org/centcelles.htm

Museu Arequeològic www.mnat.esMuseu i Necròpolis Paleocristians www.mnat.esVil·la romana dels Munts www.mnat.esMuralla romana. Passeig arqueològicwww.museutgn.orgAqüeducte de “les Ferreres”www.museutgn.orgAnfiteatre Romà www.museutgn.orgPretori (Forum provincial) www.museutgn.orgPedrera del Mèdol www.museutgn.orgFòrum de la Colònia www.museutgn.orgCirc romà www.museutgn.orgTemple www.museutgn.org

Romanesque Churches in the Boí ValleySant Climent and Santa Maria de Taüllwww.vallboi.comSant Joan de Boí www.vallboi.comSanta Eulàlia d’Erill la Vallwww.vallboi.comSant Feliu de Barruera www.vallboi.comSanta Maria de Cardet www.vallboi.comLa Nativitat de la Mare de Déu de Durro and

Sant Quirze de Durro www.vallboi.comL’Assumpció del Cóll www.vallboi.com

Cave Paintings in the Mediterranean ZoneSerra de Godall www.ulldecona.orgwww.mac.esCave Paintings in the Prades Mountainswww.mccb.es www.mac.esLa Roca dels Moros www.mac.es

INTANGIBLE HERITAGEFestival of the Patum of Bergawww.bergueda.com/lapatum

BIOSPHERE RESERVEParc Natural del Montsenywww.diba.cat/parcs/montseny.htm

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The Liceu:The phoenixThe Gran Teatre del Liceu,overlooking the Rambla inBarcelona, has risen from itsashes after a devastating fire. Itsaudience of passionate opera-lovers, its cutting-edgeequipment, and its opera andballet programme —a tastefulblend of classical bel canto andItalian Romanticism, Wagner (along-standing tradition inBarcelona), and 20th and 21stcentury forms of musicalexpression which delight theyounger generations— make the

Catalan culture,identity and prestigeHistory and tradition have endowed Catalonia with a rich and attractivecultural fabric embracing the full gamut of the performing arts, from dramato the cinema, via all styles of musical creation. Catalonia also excels inartistic performance and interpretation and possesses second-to-noneinfrastructure in which the illustriousness of the past combines with state-of-the-art technology to create an ideal setting for performances byleading international stars.

Liceu one of Europe's greatopera houses. The Liceu's own productionsalternate sagaciously withcoproductions with otherEuropean theatres, making itpossible for the great opera andballet companies of our times toappear there alongside a wideselection of top-flight singerswho uphold the tradition ofMontserrat Caballé, JaumeAragall, Josep Pons and JosepCarreras.

Catalonia, open to all influences, iscurrently one of thelaboratories in whichthe musical tastes ofthe new millenniumare taking shape.

Teatre Fortuny in Reus.

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Theatrical eventsThe Catalan theatrical traditiondates back to the Middle Ages.Great Catalan-speakingplaywrights and actors haveearned prestige for both dramaand theatrical venues all overthe country. Catalonia has alsoplayed a pioneering role inexperimentation and renovation.

Companies like Comediants, ElsJoglars, Dagoll Dagom or theinnovative Fura dels Baus areapplauded far beyond ourfrontiers. Every summer sees anew edition of the open-airTeatre Grec festival on Montjuïcand the Fira del Teatre al Carrer(street drama festival) inTàrrega. Plays by young writershave regained popularity,enabling new playwrights toemerge. Some, such as SergiBelbel, have gained aninternational reputation.

Catalonia has alsoplayed a pioneering role in experimentationand renovation.

El Palau de la Música CatalanaWith one hundred years of history, the Palau de la MúsicaCatalana (1908) is one of the main focal points of Catalanamusical life. www.palaumusica.org

El Gran Teatre del LiceuFounded in 1847 on Barcelona's la Rambla, the Gran Teatre delLiceu is an opera house that has retained its role as a cultureand arts centre throughout its history and one that representsone of the symbols of the city. www.liceubarcelona.com

L’AuditoriL’Auditori is the seat of the Barcelona Symphony and NationalOrchestra of Catalonia, the country’s first permanent ensembleof its kind, and the venue for concerts every weekend fromSeptember to May. www.auditori.org www.obc.es

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The musical traditionCatalonia, with Barcelona at itsforefront, has an establishedmusical tradition. Its symbol isthe Palau de la Música Catalana,a UNESCO world heritagebuilding designed by the greatModernist architect LluísDomènech i Montaner andrecently enlarged by anotherfamous architect, ÒscarTusquets. In latter years thesupply of "serious" music hasbeen extended by the openingof the Auditori, a building byRafael Moneo which is the homeof the Orquestra Ciutat deBarcelona i Nacional deCatalunya and the EscolaSuperior de Música deCatalunya.

Catalonia has produced classicalcomposers such as EnricGranados, Isaac Albéniz, XavierMontsalvatge and RobertGerhard and classical musiciansincluding the cellist Pau Casalsand the singer Victoria de losÁngeles. However, it also has astrong Flamenco tradition,embodied first and foremost bythe bailaora Carmen Amayaand the singers Miguel Povedaand Ginesa Ortega, as well as ajazz tradition featuring suchsensational performers aspianists Tete Montoliu andAgustí Fernández andpercussionist Jordi Rossy.

International festivalsCatalonia hosts film festivals,such as the FestivalInternacional de Cinema deSitges, and music festivals whichtake place in historic buildingsand other places of specialartistic interest (examples arethe festival held in PeraladaCastle or Barcelona's FestivalGrec). Catalonia also opens itsdoors to fusion music, jazz,electronic music, and the so-called world music. All this,along with other key musicalevents such as Sònar —a festivalof advanced music andmultimedia art— has made it alandmark on the Europeanmusic scene.

The Gran Teatre del Liceu,the central skylight ofBarcelona's Palau de la MúsicaCatalan, and L'Auditori.

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Music to suit the tastesof the new millenniumBut Catalonia's greatest impacton present-day popular musicstems from phenomena such asthe Nova Cançó movementwhich is of great importance inRomance-language countriesand Latin America, thanksprimarily to singers such as JoanManuel Serrat —who is idolizedin the Southern Conecountries—, Lluís Llach andRaimon —who make frequentappearances in France and

Italy—, and Maria del Mar Bonet— one of the "divas" ofMediterranean song. Othersignificant factors are thevitality of the Barcelona musicscene in the early 21st century—featuring the group Ojos deBrujo (flamenco-hip-hop-Catalan rumba-funk), Macaco,Dusminguet, and others— andrecording experiments such asthe Barcelona Raval Sessions(2003), a splendid reflection ofthe city's multiracial,multicultural pulse. One last crucial factor is the factthat many internationallyfamous musicians have chosenBarcelona as their long-term, oreven permanent, home: Manu

Chao, a former member of ManoNegra, the Brazilian Walter Pa,the American singer andcomposer Jackson Brown, thepianist Brad Meldhau (who wasaccompanied for many years bythe Catalan percussionist JordiRossy), the jazz organist LouBennett, and the Cuban singerLucrecia.Catalonia, right on the borderbetween north and south, opento all influences and capable ofintegrating them into a culturaldiscourse of its own, is currentlyone of the laboratories in whichthe musical tastes of the newmillennium are taking shape.

INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVALS

Festival Internacional de Música Castell de Peralada The programme for this festival, which takes place in the castle grounds in July and August every year, includesaround 25 performances: opera, ballet, concerts, recitals and chamber music.This is a truly festive festival, a veritablemidsummer night’s dream, every summer night.www.festivalperalada.com

Festival Internacional de Música Torroella de MontgríThis annual festival features a programme of around 30 concerts by outstanding solo artists, choirs and orchestrasperforming Baroque, Classical and Romantic music.The concerts take place in Sant Genís Church and in Plaça de laVila (the main town square), both Gothic-Renaissance sites of outstanding architectural interest.www.festivaldetorroella.org

Festival Internacional de Música CantonigròsThis festival features competitions and exhibitions of mixed, women’s and children’s choirs as well as popular dance.Choirs and dance groups from all over the world enter for the different categories at this four-day event, whichtakes place in July every year.www.fimc.es

SónarSónar is a festival celebrated in June where the public can enjoy the most current trends and most outstandingartists of the national and international electronic music scene.www.sonar.es

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The natural parksalong the coast

Delta de l'Ebre, Cap de Creus,Aiguamolls de l'Empordà andIlles Medes are the main naturalparks and protected areas on theCatalan seaboard. The EbroDelta's great alluvial plain,covering approximately 320 km2,is one of the westernMediterranean's largest aquatichabitats. Part of it has beendeclared a natural park. The

characteristic vegetation —reedand rush beds and riversidewoods— and the wide expansesof rice paddies and marketgardens are home to anextraordinarily rich and variedfauna —notably waterfowl andseabirds— which has made it afavourite haunt for birdwatchers.The Cap de Creus, in AltEmpordà, is a protected areacomprising both land andseashore and unusual geologicalformations. One of its primeattractions is the monastery of

The Catalan coast,a window onto the MediterraneanWith some 580 kilometres of coastline, Catalonia is a fundamentallyMediterranean country.It has a wide variety of seascapes, ranging from the secluded coves of theCosta Brava in the north to the Costa Daurada with its long beaches offine sand in the south.There are over 200 beaches and 43 marinas.

Costa brava.

Sant Pere de Rodes, built in the10th-12th centuries. Alt Empordàalso has another natural park: theEmpordà Marshes, the second ofCatalonia's great wetlands, whichis inhabited by numerousmarshland plant and animalspecies and also draws manybirdwatchers. Farther south,opposite the coast at L'Estartit,lie the Medes Islands. The seabedsurrounding them is of enormousinterest to diving enthusiasts.

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beaches with soft sand andshallow waters, and otherattractions as well: resorts suchas Salou, Torredembarra,Altafulla and Cambrils, and thecity of Tarragona, with itsRoman remains. The coastline ofthe Terres de l’Ebre includes theimportant Ebro Delta naturalpark. The chief costal towns–L’Ampolla, L’Ametlla de Mar,Sant Carles de la Ràpita and LesCases d’Alcanar– are formerfishing villages which havesuccessfully incorporatedtourism and nautical sports intotheir natural charms.

The Catalan coast,from north to southThe most striking features ofthe Costa Brava, whichstretches from the Cap de Creusto Blanes, are sheer cliffsplunging straight into the sea,coves nestling amid rocks andislets, and vegetation down tothe waterline. On the CostaBrava, the mountains seem totumble into the sea and it is thisthat makes the coastline sorugged. At the foot of the manyrocky crags, the coves andbeaches lie hidden andprotected by the pine groves

that grow right down to the sea.Many of today's major touristand cultural resorts, such asCadaqués, L’Escala, Calella dePalafrugell, Palamós, Begur,Tossa de Mar and Lloret de Mar,are former fishing villages.Further south, on the Costa delMaresme, Costa de Garraf andCosta Daurada, long, sandy, sun-drenched beaches predominate.Most of the towns on the Costadel Maresme, such as Mataró,Arenys de Mar and Premià, havemarinas. Castelldefels and Gavàon the Costa del Garraf havelong beaches of fine sand butbeyond here, all the way toSitges, the towering Garrafmassif gives rise to small coves.Sitges played a pioneering rolein the development of tourismand now hosts interesting filmand drama festivals. The CostaDaurada also offers extensive

The Costa Brava stretchesfrom the Cap de Creus toBlanes. Interior of the TeatreMuseu-Dalí in Figueres.Catalonia, land of golf.

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Enjoying the seaThe sea affords numerousopportunities for enjoyingnature thanks to the manyleisure activities –sailing,windsurfing, diving, cruising andothers– which are catered for atthe nautical sports resortslocated on different stretches ofthe coast. There are currentlyfive such resorts in operation:L’Estartit-Illes Medes, Palamós-Sant Antoni de Calonge, SantaSusanna, Salou-Cambrils-Mont-roig/Miami Platja and Vilanova ila Geltrú. Nautical sportsenthusiasts can also enjoy the43 marinas dotted along theCatalan seafront.

36 golf coursesCatalonia has a long golfingtradition and is now one of theprime European destinations forgolfers, offering 36 golf links and33 pitch and putt courses. Mostare located along the coast, or ashort distance inland, but thereare also some in the hinterlandand even at the foot of thePyrenees.

Many of today’s majortourist and culturalresorts are formerfishing villages.

THE DALÍ TRIANGLE

Salvador Dalí (1904-1989) was a leading figure in the Surrealist movement, to which he contributed the critical-paranoiac method, and one of the first artists to turn his life and work into a marketing exercise. In Catalonia, the mainrepositories of works by Dalí are:

The Teatre-Museu Dalí in Figueres. Conceived by the artist as the “biggest surreal object in the world”, the sitefeatures virtual games and such impressive set pieces as the Mae West Room.The works on show here include someof Dalí’s best known pieces, as well as a collection of jewellery he designed between 1941 and 1970.

Castell de Púbol .This, the castle that Dalí gave to his wife Gala as a gift, is adorned with mural paintings, unusualfurniture and many other decorative objects, as well as a collection of Gala’s haute couture dresses. Outside, the gardenis filled with many sculptures.

The Casa-Museu Salvador Dalí in Portlligat Bay in Cadaqués. Dalí’s home and studio near this beautiful CostaBrava town is an essential visit for anyone seeking to understand the artist’s peculiar universe.

www.salvador-dali.org

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The enchantment of MontserratOne of Catalonia's most unusuallandscapes belongs to themountain of Montserrat, a naturalpark lying at the very heart of the country. Its unique contours,resembling a sea of boulders,spikes and fantastic shapes, werecreated by water and wind whicheroded the dense, conglomeraterocks. Montserrat has been a sacred mountain since time

immemorial. The Benedictinemonastery of Santa Maria wasfounded there in the 11thcentury and remains to this day a focus of spirituality and culture.A Romanesque statue of the Verge de Montserrat —Catalonia's patroness— isvenerated there. The madonna'sdark face and hands have earnedher the nickname "La Moreneta" (Little Dark Lady).www.montserratvisita.com

THE HINTERLAND

The beautiful landscapesof the hinterlandMan's imprint is clear on the countryside of the Catalaninterior, an area boasting a richnatural heritage and ancientcities with historic buildings, a rich cultural tradition, and long-established markets. The sharp contrasts between the different parts of thehinterland are reflected in thenames of tourist regions such as Terres de l’Ebre, Val d’Aran,

A land of internal contrastsBecause of its varied landforms, Catalonia offers a wide diversity of landscapes fora relatively small country: it is only a short trip from the high Pyrenees, with peaksrising to over 3,000 m, to other convoluted chains of hills with a strictlyMediterranean climate and vegetation, or the cornfields, vineyards, olive grovesand scrub of the most arid regions.This broad range of habitats is matched by arich and varied plant life and characteristic animal and bird species, many of whichenjoy protection (the lammergeier in the photo is one example).

Arbúcies in ParcNatural del Montseny.

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Montseny (a Biosphere Reservewith a wide array of habitatsranging from strictlyMediterranean to pre-Alpine);Parc Natural del Montnegre i el Corredor; Parc de la Muntanyade Montserrat; Parc Natural deSant Llorenç i la Serra de l’Obac;Parc Natural del Garraf; ParatgeNatural de Poblet; ParatgeNatural del Montsant; and therugged Parc Natural dels Ports.

A land of thermalwatersThe tradition of thermal watershas been a feature of Catalanculture since it was brought hereby the Greeks, Romans andArabs. Present-day Cataloniaoffers a wide selection of hydros,thalassotherapy centres and spas.Most of these natural, energy-richwaters are found in privilegedareas of the country with goodtransportation and an attractive

Terres de Lleida and CatalunyaCentral. The scenery of thehinterland has been shaped bythe work of generations offarmers and a property structurerevolving round the traditionalunit of agricultural production:the masia, or manor farmhouse.

The diversity of thenatural heritageThe natural parks and protectedareas of Catalonia's hinterlandare the clearest illustration of thecountry's extraordinary range of landscapes. The full gamut ofMediterranean scenery isreflected in the parks located in the coastal and pre-coastalranges, the lowlands thatseparate them, and along theEbro basin: Parc Natural del

selection of complementary andleisure facilities. All this makes itpossible to consider Catalonia aquality destination in the healthand beauty sector.

Activity tourismThe Mediterranean climate, withits mild winters and not-too-hotsummers, is especially suitablefor activities like hiking —a network of footpaths over5,000 km long— or cycle tourism—120 routes— and over 2,300 kmof signposted itineraries. One canalso go horse-trekking, practiseadventure sports such as raftingand kayaking on white waterrivers, take boat trips along theEbro, go diving to discover the amazing seabed round theMedes Islands, or enjoy hang-gliding, canoeing, ballooning and ultralighting.

Catalonia,a land of reserves and natural parks.

National ParksParc Natural d’Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici

Natural ParksParc Natural de l’Alt Pirineu Parc Natural dels Aiguamolls de l'EmpordàParc Natural del Cadí-MoixeróParc Natural de Cap de CreusParc Natural del Delta de l’EbreParc Natural dels PortsParc Natural del MontsenyParc Natural de MontserratParc Natural de Sant Llorenç de Munt i l’ObacParc Natural de la Serra del MontsantParc Natural de la Zona Volcànica de la Garrotxa

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Rural tourismCatalonia has more than 1,300rural tourism establishments witha total of over 10,000 beds. Thisform of accommodation, whichoffers relaxation in close contactwith nature and life on the farm,has spread fast and gainedwidespread popularity in recentyears. It is usually associated withnew forms of activity tourism and provides a deeper insightinto the country.

THE PYRENEESThe Pyrenees dominate thewhole of northern Catalonia,extending for more than 230 kmfrom the peaks of Val d’Aran tothe Cap de Creus, where theysink into the Mediterranean. For hiking and climbing buffsthere are summits rising toapproximately 3,000 m, valleyscarved out by mountain rivers,glaciers with eternal snows,natural parks and protectedareas. In winter the Pyrenees are the ideal spot for skiing.

Catalonia's great natural parksCatalonia’s great natural parksare located in the Pyrenees and their foothills. They includethe following: Parc Nacionald'Aigüestortes i Llac SantMaurici; Parc Natural de l’AltPirineu; Parc Natural del Cadí-

Moixeró; Parc Natural de la ZonaVolcànica de la Garrotxa; ParatgeNatural de l’Albera; and ParcNatural del Cap de Creus. Fromthe loftiest peaks (3,000 metresat the westernmost end) to the cliff tops overlooking theMediterranean, they offer aninfinity of beautiful landscapes.

A land of snowCatalonia, with its 17 ski resorts,has more winter sports facilitiesthan any other autonomouscommunity in Spain. Of these 17 resorts, 11 offer downhillskiing and 6 cross-country skiing.Together they possess 129 skilifts capable of carrying over150,000 skiers an hour, and 639 kilometres of slopes. Artificial snowmaking equipmentguarantees snow coveragebetween 82% and 100% on 160 km of slopes.

Parc Natural del Montnegre i el Corredor www.diba.es/parcsParc Natural del Garraf www.diba.es/parcs

Natural Sites of National Interest Paratge Natural d'Interès Nacional de l'AlberaParatge Natural d'Interès Nacional de PobletParatge Natural d'Interès Naconal del Massís del Pedraforca

Nature Reserves Reserva Natural del Delta del Llobregat

Marine ReservesÀrea Protegida de les Illes Medes

www.parcsdecatalunya.net

NATURAL PARKS AND PROTECTED AREAS

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Catalonia, an active,enterprising countryCatalonia has a long history as an industrially active andenterprising land. Moreover its experience in tourism makes it a perfect destination forbusiness and professionalgatherings. It has good trade faircomplexes and conventioncentres and a wide selection of other tourist facilities for the intervals of relaxationbetween one deal and the next.

Every year Catalonia hosts over 400 trade fairs at theinternational, domestic and locallevel. This figure is hardlysurprising for a country with overtwenty venues, including the Firade Barcelona or the new ForumZone Convention Centre whichcan accommodate up to 15,000 people. Barcelona alsohosts international events such as the Barcelona Fashion Week, the Passarel·la Gaudí, Bread &Butter, Alimentaria, Construmatand 3GSM.New facilities, such as Girona's

Catalonia,a constellation of citiesCatalonia's cities bustle with vitality. Barcelona, the capital, is one of the great cities of the Mediterranean.Along with its metropolitan area,it accounts for practically half the Catalan population. However, theinhabitants of Catalonia are not merely concentrated in Barcelona, but liveall along the coast. Many other cities, steeped in history and with a fine architectural heritage, have experienced remarkable economic and demographic growth in recent decades.They include Girona,Tarragona,Lleida,Tortosa,Vic, Manresa, Reus, Figueres, Sabadell,Terrassa and Igualada.

Auditori-Palau de Congressos,have recently been set up,enabling this type of tourism to spread to other Catalan cities,which are gradually earning areputation as venues for medium-sized conventions. Catalonia's good transport and communicationsinfrastructure has played a vitalrole in its economic development. Its modern motorway network

Girona's Auditori-Palaude Congressos.

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of CataloniaBarcelona, Catalonia's capital, is one of the foremost cities onthe western Mediterranean.Founded in Roman times, itexperienced periods of greateconomic and cultural brilliancein the Middle Ages and in thewake of the Industrial Revolution(19th century). It has preservedan outstanding architecturalheritage, notably in Gothic,Modernist (Gaudí) and avant-garde styles. Barcelona has a unique, bustling,tree-lined promenade where itscitizens gather in all theirdiversity. It is called the Ramblaand stretches from Plaça deCatalunya to near the monumentto Columbus. On it stand theLiceu, one of Europe's mostprestigious opera houses, and themarket of La Boqueria. It is also

can move a large volume of goodsand passenger traffic. There are1,600 km of railway lines whichlink majors towns and cities andconnect the Spanish network to that of France. The largestports are Barcelona —whichhandles more goods andpassengers than any other in Catalonia— and Tarragona,located near the petrochemicalzone. Besides Barcelonainternational airport, there aretwo airports that are mainly usedby tourist charter companies andlow-cost airlines: Girona-CostaBrava and Reus.Barcelona, the capital

lined with popular newspaperkiosks and stalls selling flowersand pets. Two of Barcelona'smost important religiousbuildings are located in the districts of Ciutat Vella andLa Ribera: the Cathedral, built in Gothic times, and the basilicaof Santa Maria del Mar, one of the most outstanding examples of Catalan Gothic style. Barcelona is the undisputedcapital of Modernist architectureand one whole district —the Eixample— was builtaccording to Modernist tenets.Passeig de Gràcia is the streetwith the largest concentration of major Modernist buildings:Casa Batlló and La Pedrera byGaudí, Casa Amatller by Puig iCadafalch, and Casa Lleó Moreraby Domènech i Montaner.The hill of Montjuïc, where

Fundació Antoni Tàpies.and a view of the cityof Girona.

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the Olympic Ring was built in1992, is also the site of threeBarcelona museums which are a must for any visitor: the MuseuNacional d’Art de Catalunya(MNAC), housing the world'sfinest collection of Romanesquepaintings; the Fundació JoanMiró, where the artist's paintings,sculptures and tapestries are onshow; and CaixaForum, a Modernist-style building byPuig i Cadafalch containing a remarkable modern artcollection. Barcelona's mostrecent urban developmentprojects were carried out inconnection with the Forum 2004,organised by the city.

Cities with personalityIn the northeast there areestablished tourist resorts(Palamós, Sant Feliu de Guíxols,Lloret, Roses, Begur), seafaringtowns which have long been the haunt of world-famous artists(Cadaqués, Tossa, El Port de la Selva), quaintmedieval villages (Pals,Peratallada), and cities withimportant museums and historicbuildings (Girona and Figueres). In southern Catalonia we findmajor tourist destinations such as Sitges, Tarragona, Reus orSalou, the area along the Ebroriver, handsome old cities such as Tortosa and Montblanc, and venerable old monasterieslike Poblet and Santes Creus.The hinterland is dotted with stillmore centuries-old cities withhistoric buildings and long-established markets, such as Vic, Manresa, Cardona,

Igualada, Terrassa, Sabadell, and Granollers. There are scenicmountain areas too, includingMontseny, Les Guilleries andMontserrat. Lleida is the capitalof western Catalonia, a region of great cultural, architecturaland commercial importance, witha flourishing agriculture –notablyfruit orchards–, and a prestigiouscuisine. The Pyrenees stretchalong Catalonia's northernborder. Many of the country'sfinest Romanesque buildings arelocated here, as well as wintersports facilities and natural parks.At the far western tip of the Pyrenees is the Val d’Aran, a region of Occitanian languageand culture. The chief town,Vielha, is a prominent wintersports centre.

MAIN ART MUSEUMS IN BARCELONA

Fundació Antoni TàpiesEstablished in 1984 by the artist Antoni Tàpies to promote study and understanding of modern and contemporaryart. www.fundaciotapies.org

Fundació Joan MiróThe foundation is housed in an outstanding building designed by the architect Josep Lluís Sert. Opened in 1975, itcontains the most important collection of works by Joan Miró in the world. www.bcn.fjmiro.es

Museu Picasso de BarcelonaThe museum occupies five Gothic palaces in noble Carrer de Montcada.The collection includes works fromPicasso’s formative years and his Blue, Cubist and Classical periods, amongst others. www.museupicasso.bcn.es

Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA)MACBA is an essential reference point in the city’s artistic and cultural life.The centre’s collections, focusing basicallyon art over the last 50 years, feature works by Catalan, Spanish and international artists and give visitors an insightinto various key aspects of contemporary artistic creation. www.macba.es

Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC)The MNAC collections take visitors through 1,000 years of Catalan, Spanish and European art from the 11th to the 20th centuries. www.mnac.es

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Catalonia as a film setAfter the Second World War,Hollywood disembarked on theCosta Brava in the person ofdirector Albert Lewin whofilmed Pandora and the FlyingDutchman (starring AvaGardner, James Mason and theCatalan actor and bullfighterMàrius Cabré) there in 1951. In1959 much of Suddenly, LastSummer, directed by Joseph L.Mankiewicz and starringElizabeth Taylor andMontgomery Clift, was shot atBegur and Pals.

Catalonia:a spectacular settingWith its beautiful and varied scenery, its sunlit, colourful cities, the distinctivestyles of artists such as Gaudí, Dalí or Miró, and its unrivalled location–straddling the border between North and South–, Catalonia has everythingit takes to develop a strong cultural identity but one that is fully immersed inour increasingly interdependent world.The taste for beauty, the love ofpoetry, a long tradition of cultural creativity, and the solid aesthetic andtechnical background of the musicians, writers and other workers of theCatalan audiovisual industry have made our country one of the mostattractive and sought-after settings for 20th century artists.

Episodes from more recenthistory and the Civil War areportrayed in settings thatinclude Gelida in JaimeCamino's Las largas vacacionesdel 36 (The Long Holidays of1936 - 1976). The period whenBarcelona was known as the“Rose of Fire” is evoked in filmssuch as La ciutat cremada (TheBurnt City, 1976), by AntoniRibas, and Un hombre llamadoFlor de Otoño (A Man CalledAutumn Flower, 1978), byPedro Olea.Nowadays — notably from the1992 Olympics onwards —

Barcelona and many otherCatalan localities have becomemuch sought-after settings forfilm and television productionsand suitable locations for a widerange of advertising spots.Evidence of this is provided byfilms such as Ken Loach's Landand Freedom (1995), PedroAlmodóvar's Todo sobre mimadre (All About My Mother,1999), the urban comedies ofVentura Pons, or thedocumentary En construcción(2001) by José Luis Guerín.

The Monastery of Santes Creus.

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Pottery and ceramicsCatalonia is home to richtraditions in clay working, withworking studios in many towns:Breda, La Bisbal d’Empordà,Quart, Miravet, Verdú,Esparraguera...

WoodworkingWoodworking and cabinet-makingare trades with deep roots insuch places as La Cellera de Ter,Sant Hilari Sacalm and La Vall de Ges.

Lace work.

Furniture-makingHand-made furniture is animportant economic activity in LaGarriga.In La Sénia, industrialdevelopment has revolved aroundwood (sawyers, carpenters) sincethe 1960s.

Religious ImageryThe “sants” made in Olot arefamed the world over. Art Cristià,the first company devoted to producing and selling religiousfigures, was established in the 19th century.

AlabasterThe alabaster quarries in Sarraldate back to Roman times. TheAlabaster Museum illustrates thewhole process, from extraction ofthe stone to the finished object.

Lace-makingLace made from linen and cottonthread, not silk, arose in the 18thcentury. Also known as ret ficatalà, it is characteristic of Arenys de Mar and Arenys de Munt.

Artesania Catalunyawww.artesania-catalunya.com

A country of craftsmen and womenTraditional and popular culture is kept alive in all its different forms inCatalonia. Certain towns and counties here are veritable centres of renownfor high-quality craft production closely linked to the natural environment.These are activities that, in some cases, go back to the Middle Ages.

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Human towersSince the 19th century, teams ofCatalans of all ages and classeshave gathered to buildspectacular human towers, or“castells”. Their motto is“strength, balance, courage andsense”. Today this traditionremains very much alive. Humantowers are strongly identifiedwith the Camp de Tarragonaand Penedès regions, though inrecent years they have gainedwidespread popularity in manyother parts of Catalonia.

Folklore and traditionsIn summer many localitiescelebrate their festa major, orlocal festival. Several itemsinvariably appear on the agenda:sardana-dancing –the sardana

is Catalonia's most populardance– or jotes –a dance properto the Terres de l'Ebre– ;“giants” –figures over threemetres tall with a woodenstructure inside that enablespeople to carry them– anddwarves; firework displays andall-night dancing to the sound of the latest music.

In summer manylocalities celebratetheir festa major.Several items invariablyappear on the agenda:sardana-dancing orjotes; “giants” anddwarves.

A land of rejoicingNo feature of a country tells you more about its identity than its traditionalpopular festivals. Catalonia's festive calendar is packed with events all yearround. It also has an established tradition of civic festivities.The most famousis the feast of Sant Jordi, held on 23 April, when the streets fill up with bookand flower stalls.This festival has won recognition from UNESCO,which declared it International Book Day.The other great civic festival is 11 September, the Catalan national holiday.The Patum of Berga festival wasalso included in the UNESCO World Heritage Humanity list in 2005.

Festival of the Patum of Berga.

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Festivals with an identityCatalonia's national day, on 11September, commemorates thedate on which the siege ofBarcelona by the troops ofSpanish king Philip V came to atragic end in 1714. This was thelast episode in the War of theSpanish Succession, which ledto the loss of Catalonia'snational freedoms. The great spring festival is SantJordi, dedicated to SaintGeorge, Catalonia's patron saint.On this day both friends andlovers give each other gifts ofbooks and roses.

Festivals of fireFire is probably one ofCatalonia's most ancient andimportant signs of identity. Oneexample is the eve of the feastof Saint John (24 June), whengreat bonfires are lit in thesquares and streets of villages,towns and cities and Catalanscelebrate the summer solsticeall night long to the sound ofmusic, rockets and fireworks.

The great springfestival is Sant Jordi. Onthis day both friendsand lovers give eachother gifts of booksand roses.

A LAND OF REJOICING

Farm and Traditional Craft ShowsCarter’s Festival. Balsareny, the Sunday before Carnival.Tree Festival and Ball Cornut. Cornellà de Terri,Easter Monday.Wool Festival. Ripoll, mid-May.Sea Week.Vilanova i la Geltrú, last week in July.Raftsmen’s Festival. La Pobla de Segur,first weekend in July.International Sheepdog Trials. Castellar de N’Hug,last Sunday in August.Pine Tree Festival.Centelles, December 30 December.

Fairs and MarketsLa Candelera Fair. Molins de Rei, late January/earlyFebruary.Flower Market.Vic, Easter.

Food and Drink ShowsRice Festival. Sant Fruitós del Bages, January.Snail Gathering. Lleida, mid-May.Mushroom Picking Contest. Berga, October.

Traditional FestivitiesCarnival.Vilanova i la Geltrú. Solsona.St George’s Day. All over Catalonia, 23 April.Sardana Dances. Calella, June.Catalan National Day. All over Catalonia, September 11th.

Festivals of FireLa Patum. Berga, Corpus Christi week. UNESCO WorldHeritatge Humanity.Falles d’Isil, 23 June.Night of St John. All over Catalonia, 23 June.

Popular TheatreEsparreguera Passion, March and April.Mystery of the Passion. Cervera, March and April.Olesa de Montserrat Passion, March-April.Sacred Drama of the Passion. Ulldecona, March-April.Ball del Sant Crist. Salomó, May.

Medieval FestivalsMedieval Week with the Legend of St George.Montblanc, last two weeks in April.Renaissance Festival.Tortosa, last week in July.

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Fire and gunpowder are part ofmany other Catalan festivals tooand numerous local festivalsinclude a correfoc, a paradefeaturing fantastic fire-spittingbeasts and bangers and led by“devils”. The Patum of Berga is one ofthe festivals most associatedwith fire, celebrated on theFeast of Corpus Christi.

Catalans exportmerrymakingCatalonia's great festivetradition is constantly evolvingand in recent years many of theleading drama groups thatperform in our streets andsquares have designed festiveevents for major internationalgatherings. Comediants and LaFura dels Baus are currently theforemost creators of new forms of collective merrymaking.

Fire is probably one ofCatalonia’s mostancient and importantsigns of identity.

Human towers(castellers).

Religious Festivals

Cavalcade of the Three Kings. All over Catalonia, January 5th.Decennial Festival for Our Lady of the Candle. Valls, early February.Procession and Dance of Death.Verges, Easter Thursday.Living Via Crucis. Sacalm, Good Friday.Holy Burial Procession.Tarragona, Good Friday.Les Enramades Festival in Sallent, Corpus Christi week.Corpus Christi. Sitges, Corpus Christi week.Living Nativity Scene. Sant Guim de la Plana, Christmas.

More information see schedule of Turisme de Catalunya:www.catalunyaturisme.com

Port Aventura ParkIt is a unique spot in the head of the Costa Daurada. A theme park full of action-packed adventures from all corners of the globe: imperialChina, the wild Far West, exotic Polynesia, Aztec México and the mellow Mediterrània.www.portaventura.co.uk

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The Catalan label of originCatalonia's most famous andcharacteristic culinary specialityis pa amb tomàquet (breadrubbed with tomato and oliveoil), which is often served withexcellent home-produced porksausages. Other dishes include:escudella i carn d’olla, a heartywinter stew; xató, a salad typicalof southern Catalonia; calçots,tender onion shoots dipped insalvitxada sauce; cargols

a la llauna (roast snails),escalivada (char-broiledvegetables), and coca de

recapte (reminiscent of pizza).

Cookery and innovationGuides and critics all over theworld consider that Catalancuisine is currently experiencinga veritable “golden age”. Catalanrestaurateurs include some of the world's most prestigiousnames, such as Ferran Adrià,Joan Roca, Carme Ruscalleda,Santi Santamaria and CarlesGaig, all veritable geniuses of avant-garde cuisine.

Sopa de galetsand carn d’olla.

Catalonia also has schools ofgastronomy –the one at the Mercat de la Boqueriain Barcelona, and the AulaGastronòmica de l’Empordà–and research organisations suchas the Laboratori de Cuina, the Alícia centre (Nutrition and Science) at Sant Benet de Bages, or the Sent Soví chair at the University of Barcelona.Every other year the Fira deBarcelona is the venue forAlimentaria, one of the leadingEuropean salons for the foodand agriculture industry and the catering trade.

The value of gastronomyBesides preparing nourishing and tasty traditional Mediterranean dishes, manyCatalan chefs have excelled in recent years as veritable researchers into thecountry's raw materials and the creators of a successful blend of traditional andinnovative cookery.Their recipes have won the highest international prestige.

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Traditional cookeryCatalan gastronomy, like somany aspects of our country,arose out of popular wisdom and tradition. Geographicallyspeaking one can distinguishtwo main styles of cookery: that of the mountains andhinterland, predominated by meat and sausages, produce of the dairy, market garden and farmyard, game, andmushrooms; and that of the coast, featuring fish and seafood, often accompanied by rice and vegetables.

Catalonia also has countlessmouth-watering sweets anddeserts. One of the mostpopular is crema catalana, with burnt sugar and caramel.Each town and village has its own specialities and manysweetstuffs are prepared forparticular liturgical feastdays:torró –such as that made in Agramunt– for Christmas,mones for Easter, coques de Sant Joan at midsummer, and panellets and chestnuts for All Saints.

Wine and cavaWine is another key feature of any Catalan meal. Vines havebeen grown all over the countryfor countless centuries and wineis produced under ten regionallabels of origin. Cava sparklingwine has its own label of origin.Prepared by the traditionalmethod in the Penedès, Terra Alta and Conca deBarberà regions, it is one of the country's leading exports. The introduction of leading-edge enologicaltechniques has raised certainCatalan wines –notably Priorat and Montsant– to the viticultural forefront.

Crema catalana,and traditional productscooked with a moderntouch.

MICHELIN STARS (2007)

1 Star (*)

Ca l’Enric Jordi Juncà i Isabel Juncà www.calenric.netCan Bosch Joan Bosch www.canbosch.comCan Jubany Nando Jubany www.canjubany.comCarballeira Joan Aparicio www.carballeira.netDrolma Fermí Puig (00 34) 93 496 77 10El Castell Vicenç Tonico www.hotelcastell.comEl Racó d’en Freixa Ramon Freixa www.elracodenfreixa.comGaig Carles Gaig www.restaurantgaig.comJean Luc Figueras J.Luc Figueras www.jeanlucfigueras.comL’Esguard Miguel Sánchez www.miguelsanchezromera.comCuina de Can Pipes Ramon Casabayó www.canpipes.comLa Llar Joan Viñas www.crae.com/restaurantlallarLluçanès Àngel Pascual www.restaurantllucanes.comMas Pau Xavier Sacristà www.maspau.comSala Toni Sala www.fondasala.comVia Veneto José Muniesa www.viavenetorestaurant.comNeichel J. Louis Neichel www.neichel.esÀbac Xavier Pellicer (00 34) 93 319 66 00 La Cuina de Can Simón Xavier Lores www.lacuinadecansimon.comL’Estany Clar Jordi Cruz www.estanyclar.comMas Les Cols Fina Puigdevall www.lescols.comEl Cingle Montse Estruch www.elcingle.comHispània Paquita i Lolita Reixach www.restauranthispania.comAlkimia Jordi Vila (00 34) 93 207 61 15 Hofmann Mey Hofmann www.hofmann-bcn.comCaelis Romain Fornell www.caelis.comMoo Felip Llofriu www.hotelomm.esEl Rincón de Diego Diego Campos www.rincondediego.comEl Fogony Zaraida Cotonat www.fogony.comHostal de Sant Salvador Joan Borràs www.restaurantsantsalvador.comEl Rebost d’en Pere Pere Arpa www.elrebostdenpere.comLasarte Àlex Garés www.condesdebarcelona.comSaüc Xavier Franco www.saucrestaurant.comMiramar Paco Pérez www.hotelmiramarllanca.com Evo Santi Santamaria www.restauranteevo.com

2 Stars (**)

Celler de Can Roca Joan Roca www.cellercanroca.com

3 Stars (***)

El Bulli Ferran Adrià www.elbulli.comRacó de Can Fabes Santi Santamaria www.canfabes.comSant Pau Carme Ruscalleda www.ruscalleda.com

2 Stars (**) Catalan restaurants outside Catalonia

La Broche Sergi Arola www.labroche.comSant Celoni Santi Santamaria www.restaurantesantceloni.comHacienda Benazuza Rafael Morales www.elbullihotel.com

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From its origins to the 20th centuryPre-20th century Catalanliterature has a distinct anddefinitive canon of authors andmovements. The 13th centuryproduced the visionaryphilosopher Ramon Llull.Historical chronicles written byventuresome kings were thehighlight of the 14th century.The poet of grief, Ausiàs March,and the knight-novelist JoanotMartorell, who wrote the greatnovel of chivalry, Tirant loBlanc, were the towering figuresof the 15th century. Literary

output plummeted in the 16th,17th and 18th centuries. Thepredominance of Castilian droveCatalan literature intodecadence, but then the adventof Romanticism in 19th centuryEurope triggered an ethical andaesthetic reaction. In Cataloniathis was the age of theRenaixença (the culturalrebirth), complete with itsideological and religiouslimitations. As JacintVerdaguer’s epic and lyricalworks burgeoned, EuropeanRomantic poetry finally reachedCatalonia.

Artistic styles up to 1959The Modernist movement -Catalan Art Nouveau - arosearound 1892 and was a spiritualreaction to the past. TheSymbolist plays of SantiagoRusiñol, the Modernist Festivalsin Sitges, Joan Maragall’s articlesand his vigorous poetic idiom allsignalled the arrival of amovement that aimed atrenewing Catalan cultural lifeand permeated all forms ofartistic expression. TheModernists were determined toturn Catalan into a modern

Catalan literature:Catalan literature: toward the vanguardof the 21st centuryAs a cultural phenomenon, Catalan literature is part of a broader contextmarked indelibly by history.The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)unquestionably caused a radical break with the cultural and politicalprogramme launched by the government of the Republic.Today, the Catalanliterary scene is largely dominated by the novel.

The Biblioteca de Catalunya.

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Catalan writers and thegreat novel of chivalryTirant lo Blanc.

language, fit for normal use. Inthis respect, Víctor Català’ssymbolic novel constitutes theessence of Modernist prose. Anindividualistic restlessness, ayearning for sincerity, and avisionary imagination were thehallmarks of a major socialphenomenon: the bourgeoisiewas producing its firstgeneration of artists, who wereto rebel against their own class.Being an artist, however, meantbeing a professional, not in thesense of making a living from artbut of living for it.From 1906 onwards, the failureof Modernist idealism led to theupsurge of the Noucentistmovement. The Noucentistsdignified the Catalan language

with their greater intellectualrigour and their more efficienttools. Implicit in thisregenerative process was thecelebration of the city andcivism, and the exaltation of“good workmanship”. Noucentistliterature is accomplished andidealistic, with an aloofly ironicalbent. It establishes a hierarchybetween genres. Its primefeature was the poetry of JosepCarner, as the novel had entereda crisis.The 1930s were a time ofrenovation and diversification, atime of post-symbolist poetry(Carles Riba, J.V. Foix and MariàManent) and the resurgence ofthe novel, which becamepsychological (Miquel Llor andJ.M. Sagarra) or journalistic(Josep Pla). After the SpanishCivil War (1936-1939), Catalanliterature symbolised a resolute

break with the Franco regime,and a slow cultural revival wasset in motion. In the field ofpoetry, the avant-garde tradition(Joan Brossa and Josep Palau iFabre) mingled with realism anddemystification (Pere Quart,Estellés and Martí i Pol).Narrative literature bore theimprint of exile and wassuffused with existentialism andtechnical innovation (MariaAurèlia Capmany) or withfantasy (Joan Perucho).Dramatists experimented withpoetry (Joan Brossa). The mostsignificant theatrical works ofthe era were by Salvador Espriu.From the historical realism ofthe 1960s to the present dayIn the 1960s writers graduallyabandoned existentialism andpsychologism to explore a new

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CATALAN LITERATURE

Institut Ramon LlullThe Institut Ramon Llull's mission is to promote Catalan language and culture internationally, in all of its variationsand methods of expressionwww.llull.cat

Institució de les Lletres CatalanesThe institution is an autonomous organization of the Generalitat de Catalalunya whose fundamental objective isthe promotion of the Catalan literary heritage.http://cultura.gencat.net/ilc

Espais escritsThis Network is an association that aims to bring together all those different bodies that are devoted toperpetuating the memory of the works and landscapes of Catalan language writers.www.espaisescrits.org

committed form of literature.Poetry adopted Anglo-Saxonmodels, which were evolvingtowards the experience of self(Gabriel Ferrater, the master ofseveral generations) or theexperience of language (PereGimferrer). Narrative worksrevealed diverse facets ofrealism, from historical ideology(Llorenç Villalonga and MercèRodoreda), to myth (TerenciMoix) and radicalism (QuimMonzó). The renewal of dramawas fuelled by J. M. Benet iJornet and his theatre of text.Joan Fuster voicedcontemporary preoccupations inhis ferociously critical essays,imbued with a corrosive sense ofhumour. For Catalan literature

the 1970s were a period ofcombat and awareness. Women’sliterature - and feministliterature too - arose midwaybetween lyricism and ambiguity,alongside homosexual literatureand "textualism". Narrators(Montserrat Roig and BaltasarPorcel) and poets (PereGimferrer and Maria MercèMarçal) became explorers ofnew techniques. Groups andtrends took shape and quite afew poetical anthologies werepublished. The literature of the1980s was concerned withsocio-political criticism andreflected on the phenomenon ofgenerations. Fiction split intogenres: the historical novel(Jaume Cabré, Lluís-AntonBaulenas and Carme Riera) andthe roman noir (Ferran Torrentand Jaume Fuster), amongothers. In the quest for beauty,

the debate between rural andurban literature was launched(Maria Barbal). Narratorsdeveloped a taste for post-modernism, a way of lifemarked, ethically andaesthetically, by a systematic rift(Sergi Pàmies and MàriusSerra). The experimental fictionof the 1990s features a plethoraof names. And there are thepoets of the 1970s (JoanMargarit and Feliu Formosa)and rediscovered poets whohave won deserved renown(Enric Casasses and VíctorSunyol).The present-day Catalan literaryscene is dominated by the novel,first and foremost the historicalnovel and investigative fiction(Carles Porta, Albert SánchezPiñol and Emili Rosales).

USEFUL INFORMATION

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Institutions of Touristic Promotion:

Patronat de Turisme Costa Brava – Pirineu de Gironawww.costabrava.org

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Patronat de Turisme de Lleidawww.lleidatur.com

Torisme Val d’Aranwww.aran.org

© Generalitat de Catalunya. Dept. d’Innovació, Universitat i Empresa. Edition: Turisme de Catalunya. Pg. Gracia 105, 3apl, 08008 BCN. Editorial produc-tion: Ara Idees, sccl. Photos:Toni Vidal p.1,10; Nano Cañas p.4; Georama p.6,13,16(n.1,5),28;Arthur Friederich Selbach p.8,14,16(n.3),20,23,26(n.2),34(n.2);MNAC p.9,16(n.3); Rafael López-Monné p.16(n.4),18,30(n.1),36,38; Magma p.16,40; Jordi Bastart p.24; Oriol Llauradó p.32;Tina Bagué p.46(n.1); MarioKrmpotic p.46(n.2); DGT p.14(n.2),16(n.5,7),21,26(n.1,3),30,34,43,44; Fototeca p.48,50. Printing: Gramagraf.